Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)
Wild Quinine, American Fever-Few, American Feverfew, Prairie Dock
Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine) is an upright, clump-forming perennial boasting broad, flat-topped clusters of white, button-like flowers from late spring to late summer. Resembling small white pearls from a distance, each flower head features five cute tiny ray flowers. Long-lasting, they withstand extreme weather. They turn brown, almost black, in late fall and remain architectural as they stand into winter. The charming blossoms are borne atop sturdy stems emerging from a thickened, tuberous rootstock. They rise above a rosette of large, coarsely toothed, aromatic leaves. Since it self-sows prolifically, Wild Quinine is best planted in mass in naturalistic meadows or in prairie reconstructions. Wild Quinine was used as a substitute for the bark of the Cinchona tree during World War I, with the goal of supplying quinine to treat malaria.
- Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall (60-120 cm) and 1-2 ft. wide (30-60 cm).
- Performs best in full sun in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils. No irrigation or fertilizer required. Drought, clay, dry soil tolerant.
- Wild Quinine is an ideal addition to prairies and meadows, rock gardens, cottage gardens or naturalized areas.
- Excellent as fresh cut flowers or in dried arrangements.
- No serious pest or disease issues.
- Easy to propagate by seed.
- Native to the eastern United States to from new York to Georgia and west to Minnesota and Texas.
Buy Parthenium integrifolium (Wild Quinine)
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
By Steph Reuse, Shutterstock, Chanticleer Gardens
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 18" – 24" (45cm – 60cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |